Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island swept the Golden Eagles of St. Joseph’s College – Long Island this afternoon under a cloudy sky at the CSI Softball Complex. The Dolphins and Eagles battled in game one with the Dolphins earning a 1-0 win before dominating game two by a score of, 7-2. The pair of wins gives the Dolphins their first back-to-back wins of the season, bumping their season record up to 3-7 while knocking the Golden Eagles down to, 4-6.
Game 1: Staten Island 1, St. Joseph’s College – LI 0
The Golden Eagles scattered eight hits in the first game of the afternoon but were unable to capitalize on any of them, as they left 9 runners on the bases. The Dolphins only need four hits to secure the win, however, that run didn’t come until the bottom of the sixth inning. Previous to that, St. Joseph’s – LI threatened to score in the top of the fourth when they put two runners on with just one out. Trapani pitched well for the Dolphins and despite having just one out and two on, she locked in and struck out the final two batters of the inning to prevent the Golden Eagles from getting on the board.
Antoinette Galbo started the Dolphins off in the bottom of the sixth with a single through the right side, setting the Dolphins up to score the go-ahead run. Vanessa Jioia stepped to the plate and laid down a sacrifice bunt which moved Galbo over to second base to put her in scoring position. Jamie Holmes moved Galbo over to third immediately after as Galbo waiting for the throw to first to make her move. With two outs on the board, Gabriele DeLeon came to the dish with one thing on her mind, and that was to bring in Galbo waiting at third. It wouldn’t come easily to DeLeon as she battled through a 0-2 count and waited for her pitch until she got the one she wanted an sent it through the right side to score what would become the game-winning run.
Trapani would keep the Golden Eagles off of the board once more to pick up her first win of the season. Trapani struck out eight while allowing eight hits in a complete game shutout. Patricia Riches finished the game, 2-for-3 while DeLeon went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Game 2: Staten Island 7, St. Joseph’s – LI 2
The Dolphins came into game two looking to bring out their bats after being held to just four hits in the previous game. Staten Island did just that, littering eight hits for seven runs while leaving just four runners on. Alison Meagher got the start in the circle and earned her second win of the season, striking out 9 in the process.
The Golden Eagles refused to be shutout for the second game in a row and were first on the board, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the third after an infield error extended the inning.
Staten Island would rebound nicely, taking the lead just an inning later with three runs of their own. Holmes led the Dolphins off with a strong double to right center, putting her in scoring position. Holmes would be moved over to third after DeLeon grounded out to the shortstop. Julianna Cretella dropped one in over the first baseman’s head to bring home Holmes from third. Cretella wouldn’t have to wait on base long as A. Meagher helped her own cause by hitting a two-run homer, her first of the season, off of the top of the scoreboard to give her team the lead for good.
CSI added four more insurance runs in the next inning, increasing their lead to, 7-2. Riches’ first two at-bats of this game saw her line drive go right into the gloves of the Golden Eagles. Her third at-bat she made sure she didn’t do that a third time and ripped a shot to the left field wall for a double. Riches would move over to third on a passed ball and would cross the dish when Galbo found a gap in left field and hit it for an RBI single. Jioia kept the hitting spree going, with a single to right field followed by a two-RBI double by Holmes.
From there the Dolphins played defense going forward. The Golden Eagles had a glimmer of hope in the top of the seventh when a two-out error allowed the inning to continue but by just one batter as the Dolphins secured their second straight win.
Holmes played outstanding, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI while both Cretella and A. Meagher tallied two RBI of their own.
Up next for the Dolphins is a CUNYAC doubleheader tomorrow against Lehman College at the CSI Softball Complex at 12:00 pm.